This area has been a popular swimming and picnic spot for over 100 years. Early settlers named this reserve from the fact that when they saw the surrounding cliffs; they were reminded of the dress circle in an opera house. There is a permanent waterfall from a side stream by the swimming hole, and a little further down stream another deeper and wider waterfall can be seen. Walking upstream you will see the beautiful formations of the soft grey papa rock, which almost resembles Swiss cheese with it’s many holes.

Take Ruahine Rd east from Mangaweka.